Swivel mop head

ABSTRACT

A resilient body for supporting a mophead and a mop handle and having an irregularly shaped slot therethrough in the mid-portion thereof to define a flexible neck integrally joined to the body with the neck being flexed upwardly and downwardly and angularly accordingly as the mop handle is swung through its various positions relative to the mophead and with the neck normally lying in the plane of the body when unflexed.

United States Patent 1 Johnson et a1.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 SWIVEL MOP HEAD [75] Inventors: Alvin 0. Johnson; Herbert D. Rice,

both of Westfield, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Stanley Home Products, Inc.,'

Westfield, Mass.

[22] Filed: July 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 158,733

[52] US. Cl 15/144 A, 15/147 A, 306/20 [51] Int. Cl A471 13/255, B25g '3/38 [58] Field of Search 15/144 R, 144 A,

15/147, 172, 187, 188, 228, 229 B, 229 BC, 229 BP, 229 BW, 244 A; 287/85 R; 306/19, 20; 401/203, 204

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,581,298 5/1971 Billawala 248/204 X 3,582,920 6/1971 Billawala.... 248/204 X 3,151,346 10/1964 Gray 15/187 3,131,410 5/1964 Anderson et al. 15/244 A 2,727,268 12/1955 Hucke l5/233 X 2,185,873 l/1940 Underhill.. 15/147 A 2,665,441 l/l954 Goon 15/229 BP X 1,586,337 5/1926 St0ckwell..... 15/228 UX 3,384,424 5/1968 Raines 287/85 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 822,876 10/1937 France 15/147 A Primary ExaminerDaniel Blum Attorney-Kenwood Ross et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A resilient body for supporting a mophead and a mop handle and having an irregularly shaped slot therethrough in the mid-portion thereof to define a flexible neck integrally joined to the body with the neck being flexed upwardly and downwardly and angularly accordingly as the mop handle is swung through its various positions relative to the mophead and with the neck normally lying in the plane of the body when unflexed.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SWIVEL MOP HEAD The invention relates' to, cleaning implements of the class comprising mops, brushes, clusters and the like and it has special reference to implements of the type intended for use on floor surfaces.

The cleaning implement is here referred 'to as a mop for the sake of consistency, but it will be understood that all other types of cleaning implements, having equivalency with respect to structures in the form of a body and a handle attachable thereto wherewith the body in the cleaning function assumes various angular positions relative to the movement of the handle, are herein comprehended.

The invention envisions a novel type of structure for a mop, brush, duster or equivalent body and a complemental handle attachable thereto in manner such that the bodymay easily assume various angular positions relative to the line of the direction in which the end of the handle may be moving.

This invention envisions a unique swivel-structure in cluding a head ofa'simple but unique construction and a handle so associated therewith that rotation thereof in either direction will cause movement of the body and the work'member carrier thereby.

Whereas the common mop, embodying a body and the usual elongate handle therefor, is easily manipulated over the floor surface generally, it is unwieldy in the areas about thefeet of chairs, tables and other objects. I

In the handling of mops, such as, for example, a dust mop, it is difficult to keep the work element properly positioned upon the floor, with the nose or forward portion of the mop tightly engaging the floor so that it may be directed readily into corners and other places difficult of access.- I I Prior art devices have been known to be intended as resilient structures for purposes of getting into difficultto-reach areas but these have suffered from the disadvantage that they have incorporated spring meansin conjunction with the handle for exerting pressure against thetop of the mophead with the resultant structure allowing lateral 'play with control being rendered difficult because .ofsuchla'teral play. I I

O ne primary object her eof is to provide a mophead structure in which a relatively rigid member is employed to integrate the parts of the head into a firm-and easily controlled body, while simultaneously providing I a resilient connecting means between the handle and body for effecting accurate control thereof.

Another object hereof allows the frame, when constructed of a suitable material, to remain within the mophead and to retain its shape and functional value after being subjected to a washing operation together with mophead. I

Still another object is to provide a mophead structure with a, resilientinterconnection between handle and head and a means for readily controlling the sweep of the handle with a relatively high flexibility after a predetermined limit of sweep has been reached.

To provide an improved construction embodying As will appear, the invention includes a new frame or support and a novel mop, brush, duster or similar head removably attached thereto and removable therefrom and the same are so formed that the working part of the mop may easily take various angular positions relative to the line of direction in which the end of the handle is moving.

By reason of the novel construction, the mop may be more easily manipulated and moved over a floor surface and is particularly suitable for cleaning around and working at the areas about the feet of tables, chairs, desks, etc.

The invention is considered new and novel for the reason that it is the first to teach the feature of a body of one-piece construction and the means by which the swiveling action is obtained. A bar in the central portion of the body to which the swivel connector of the handle attaches is an integral part of the frame and is able to pivot vertically along the linear axis of the body by means of two flexible self-compensating sections of which the pivoted bar is a part; This action allows the frame to be rotated through a full 360.

The invention provides a mop-head device which includes a supporting body and a covering member of some suitable flexible material having a plurality of socalled thrums, which usually'consist of threads or yarns, attached thereto and providing the dirtcollecting surfaces. The body is especially formed to have what may be termed a pocket for releasably receiving the new type of frame, the body and frame members being constructed for cooperative relationship and combinable into a working mophead unit which is particularly adapted for cleaning around vertical or elongated members, such as legs of chairs.

The invention especially comprehen ds an implement intended for use on floor surfaces. 'Whereas a common mop, which embodies a body structure of elongate formation and the usual handle stick therefor, is easily manipulated over the floor surface generally, it is unwieldy at the areas'about the feet of the chairs, desks, tables and other objects. I I

To provide an improved construction embodying connections between the handle and the frame of the mop, w hereby-th e mop'body may be positively and dependably directed at various angles with relation to the line of direction in which the end of the stick is moving, these movements being obtainable by the rotative movement onevway or the other, of the stick, is a gen- 'eral object of this invention.

The invention is embodied in the new construction,

.combination and arrangem'ent'of parts described in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein: I I v FIG. 1 is a view, in top plan, of the article of the invention; I v v FIG. 2 is a view, in bottom plan, of the article of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view, in section taken longitudinally through the article, of FIG. 1; and

FIG; 4 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, of the article of FIG. 1.

The mop holder shown is designed for use with a pad for dry or wet pad usage and as a general household utility mop as for floor, wall or ceiling use.

The holder, as shown, may be of an elongated more or less rectangular shape as the flat body member, generally designated by numeral 2, which is here formed by a relatively thin sheeting of a plastic material with a downwardly-depending peripheral rim or flange 4 disposed at the edges.

Body member 2 and rim 4 may be integrally formed as a single unit of a plastic, rubber or like material which will retain its shape and functional value even after being subjected to washing operations together with the mophead as will appear.

2 designates a resilient body which can provide a certain degree of stiffness throughout the major portion of its area but which can provide a certain degree of resilience in its central area by virtue of the formation now to be described.

Centrally of body 2, a single continuous serpentine slot is provided therethrough, which slot is comprised of a first diagonally disposed section 6 commencing inwardly of a first side edge 7 of the body and connected at its inner terminal to a relatively short arcuate section 8 which merges into a second diagonally-disposed section 10 spaced from and parallel to first section 6 and which is connected at its opposite end to another relatively short arcuate section 12 which merges into a third diagonally-disposed section 14 spaced from and parallel to the first and second sections and terminating inwardly of a second side edge 15 of the body.

Sections 6, 8 and 10 of the continuous slot define a tongue portion A, at the outer free extremity of which, adjacent arcuate section 8, a button portion 9 is disposed, and sections 10, 12 and 14 of the continuous slot define a tongue portion B, at the outer free extremity of which, adjacent arcuate section 12, a button portion 13 is disposed, the two 1 button portions being spaced as to each other and in coaxial alignment with the median line of the longitudinal axis of the body.

Extending upwardly from button portions 9 and 13 are post portions 9' and 13' respectively which are interconnected at their respective upper extremities, upwardly of the upper plane of the main portion of body 2, by a relatively thin, pin-like cross arm 17.

Along the axis bet-ween button portions 9 and 13, a straight slot 19 is providedthrough body 2whic h intersects parts of both of tongue portions -A and B and which merges into section 10 of the continuous slot.-

If desired, further downwardly depending rimming or flanging 20 may be provided adjacent major portions of merge into rim or flange 4, as shown.

The head is adapted to carry a work member, indicated generally by M, which includes a support element having a pocket I formed of some suitably flexible material, such as canvas, fabric or the like, and a multiplicity of the usual so-called thrums which extend outwardly from one surface of one side of the support element so as to form the mop body. The mop pad, if such is employed with the invention, may be formed of loose cotton or textile material such as cotton batting, or may be formed of soft sponge rubber.

The support element, being pocketed, allows the insertion of body 2 into pocket P so that the work member is seen to be sleeved over the body and held thereon throughout operational use.

The handle, not shown, is of the usual construction and is fitted with a conventional holder or swivel connected at one end thereof and may be of the type such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,6l0,902 of Sept. l6, 1952 or U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,353 of Dec. 16, 1952 wherefore the handle can be interengaged with the body by means of the holder being engaged with cross arm 17 wherefor the mop may not only be swung to and fro along the axis XX shown in FIG. 1, in known manner, but also along the side-to-side axis YY, also shown in FIG. 1, as well as along any axis ZZ between axes XX and YY as typified by the single axis ZZ in FIG. 1.

By means of such construction, a swiveling action along the XX or YY axes or any ZZ axis is obtained.

The cross arm 17 to which the swivel connector attaches is an integral part of the body and is able to pivot vertically along the linear axis YY of the body by means of the two tongue portions A and B which are flexible, self-compensating elements, all wherefor the handle may be rotated through a full 360 of a circle. Where the cross arm 17 fixed to the plastic frame (ie were there no self-compensating sections or tongue portions in the frame), one would only be able to swing the handle 180 through one single vertical plane from the floor on one side of the mop to the floor on the op-' posite side of the mop.

In this way, the housewife can exert a force onthe handle when she gets on either side of the single vertical plane, so as to cause a depression at one end or the other of the cross arm 17 as allowed by the yielding of the respective compensating sections or tongue portions A and B, one raising and one lowering as the case may be.

In the handling of the usual mops, it is exceedingly difficult to keep the mophead properly positioned upon the floor with the forward portion of the mop tightly engaging the floor. Such comes relatively easily when swinging fore and aft along the usual X-X axis but when swinging along the Y-Y axis or along any angular ZZ axis when in the process of reaching under tables or chairs and usually between the legs thereof, the nose or forward portion of the usual mop will not tightly engage the floor so that it may be directed readily into corners andother areas difficult to have access to. v

In the operation of the mop hereof a universal joint effect is-achieved, the handle being swingable fore and aft along the XX axis so as to permit an easy movement of the mophead carried, thereby. When it is desired to vary the operational procedure and-swing the handle and the mophead along the YY axis or perchance along any of the myriad available ZZ axes, the flexure of the buttons and tongue portions vertically upwardly or downwardly, as the case may be, or the flexure of the buttons and tongue portions vertically upwardly or downwardly and angularly relative to the primary longitudinal axis of the body, as the case may be, is conveniently permitted as the particular swinging movement on the handle by the operator brings a greater or lesser pressure upon the mophead.

The basic point is that the mophead may be moved back and forth or side to side or in any other desired direction or directions with the so-called rock of 'the body, constituted by tongue portions A and B, button portions 9 and 13, post portions 9 and 13' and cross arm 17, which flexes readily and accommodates to any position assumed by the handle, the mop body allowing a perfect freedom of motion of the handle in every practical direction.

The mophead provides a linkage whose purpose is to allow mutual flexing of components between a relatively rigid main portion of a body of a mophead and a cross arm positioned between and connecting the tongue portions, said arm disposed above the plane thereof,

the mop handle being connected to the cross arm for allowing the handle to be swung or rotated through a multiplicity of positions in a multiplicity of vertical planes defined within the area defined by an imaginary cone with respect to the supported mophead.

2. ln a structure according to claim 1, wherein the cross arm is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the resilient body. 

1. In a structure of the character set forth, a resilient body for supporting a mophead and a mop handle and having an angularly-arranged S-shaped slot therethrough in the mid-portion thereof to define a pair of flexible self-compensating tongue portions unitary with and separated from the body by the slot, a cross arm positioned between and connecting the tongue portions, said arm disposed above the plane thereof, the mop handle being connected to the cross arm for allowing the handle to be swung or rotated through a multiplicity of positions in a multiplicity of vertical planes defined within the area defined by an imaginary cone with respect to the supported mophead.
 2. In a structure according to claim 1, wherein the cross arm is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the resilient body. 